Happy New Year! You may well be used to writing 2017 on your checks and notes by now, but since I was away last week fulfilling my duties for the Board of Ordained Ministry, I want to wish you Happy New Year. I wonder if you have thought about resolutions and goals for this year. Last year as I prayed about the future of our church, I came up with three goals over the next year for us as a congregation. The first of which, I want to share this morning: Commit to Read your Bible daily and in a year.
American Bible Society found in their survey that the Bible is readily available and regarded in the US: 80 percent of respondents said they own a Bible, 80 percent think the Bible is sacred, 61 percent wish they read the Bible more, and the average household has 4.4 Bibles.[1] However, over half of us read our Bibles four times a year or less. As a result of not reading the Bible ourselves, we begin to imagine that anything that we hear people say that has God in it, must be in the Bible. We are shocked when we find out the “God helps those who help themselves” is the Gospel according to Benjamin Franklin and NOT in the Bible! Remember this friends, as you hear others reference the Bible is it actually God’s word or is it creative interpretation thereof? How can we know?
By the American Bible Society’s polling, 84% of Christians wish they read the Bible more. They followed up to find out that most were not sure where to start or how to go about reading the Bible. I wonder if you find yourself in that same category. I wonder if you find yourself with a bible (maybe even more than one) on your bookcase or bedside, without being sure where to read. If you do not have a Bible, please see me, I will be delighted to supply a good bible or talk with you about a readable version.
So, I challenge you to join me in reading the Bible. Like me, you might have read it before. You might have picked it up when you were preparing for Sunday School or curious about a particular story. I am challenging you to read the Bible with me and others in a systematic way. The blue paper in your bulletin today is an outline for reading the Bible in a year. It is not the only way to do it, but I do think it is a good way to do it. Go ahead and pull it out of your bulletin. You might notice a few things. This setup has you reading two places in the Bible – for example, today is Genesis 18-20 and Psalm 7. There are days of reflections with no readings. This schedules you for 28 days of the month. This read and rest model is more sustainable over the full year. I hope you will join me, whether you begun on January 1st or are beginning today. Your personal spiritual growth is given a jump start by diving into the Bible. Also as a church for us to read together, I make this goal for our whole church. As we read together, we begin to grow together. As you read the story of three visitors for Abraham and Sarah (today’s passage), you can talk to other members of our church family and imagine together, the shock and surprise of Sarah as she hears that after years and years of waiting, she will soon expect a child. Reading together, we learn together and grow together as the body of Christ.
Today, we join the larger body of Christ, in Epiphany – hearing the visit of the kings, magi, astrologers, visitors from the East. Last week, Pastor Jim brought a message about the gift of the Magi. If you missed it, please take a moment later today to pick it up on our website. But today, I think about the word epiphany. We have colloquially come to regard the word more about speed and less about substance. In our popular language, an epiphany tends to describe a sudden realization, an ah-ha!, an instantaneous revelation. However, if the word truly comes from the passage of Matthew, epiphany describes a lifelong pursuit in which knowledge is revealed. The wise ones prior to their infamous journey are studying the stars and the prophecies. They spend years we understand watching and waiting, studying, and figuring, before they come to understand that the appearance of a star is a reference to the Christ. God continued to reveal to the Magi, even after their visit to Christ with a dream, not to return to Herod. God’s revelation remained with them throughout their lives and called on great knowledge they had faithfully gathered.
When we read the Bible, when we pray, when we serve others, when we read spiritual writings, we give God so much more to work with. We give God more to call to mind as we seek instant revelation and ah-ha epiphanies, which are actually long term learnings and God-led epiphanies.
When I was in junior high and high school, I used to read the Bible by flipping the pages with my eyes closed and letting the opening pages fall with my finger pointing to a passage. I believed that this passage my finger fell upon would be a revelation – something I needed to read, learn, and know. In some ways, I was spot on. I always landed on an insightful passage. I always found God speaking in the passage where my finger had landed. However, this was not because of divine inspiration in my fingers, but rather, because the very word of God is inspired. The Bible itself is inspired and filled to the brim with revelation and insightful passages. I did not need the trappings of closed eyes and finger pointing to discover this.
Sometimes the simple and straightforward is not exciting enough for us thrill seekers. Reading the Bible is the work of disciples, who are looking for where God is leading them. Reading the Bible is the work of seekers, who are looking for who God is. Reading the Bible is the work of the doubters, who are not even sure if God is there. Reading the Bible is the delight and work for all of us. These were the words of the Psalmist. From Psalm 119, the longest psalm and one of the most meaningful from design. In Hebrew, Psalm 119 is an acrostic with the letters beginning with Aleph and then, Bet (the Hebrew alphabet). For example, verse 1-8, all start with aleph, and so on. This acrostic recounts the delight of knowing the scriptures. This is not mere lip service, but rather lived out experience of the joy of knowing God’s word and God’s way.
The joy of knowing God’s way as a baptized child of God. We turn so quickly from the babe in the manager to the grownup Jesus. As the children at chapel time asked me this week as I forecast from their story about the escape from Egypt to next week’s story about fishers of people, Did he really grow that big and that quick? Already, we turn to Jesus asking his cousin and prophet, John for baptism.
So, often, we think of baptism as infants and toddlers who gurgle in their parent’s arms. We think of parents making promises on behalf of their children, for their children to grow into through confirmation. But today, we are reminded that baptism is not age-bound. In fact, Jesus is often estimated to 30 at the time of his baptism – fully grown. This morning, we celebrate the life journey of Steve May, who finds himself coming for baptism.
For all of us, baptism is not an end, but a beginning. Next week, we will look more at how our baptisms call us to action – call us to be at work in the world for God’s purposes, helping to usher in the Kingdom of God. But for this Sunday, I want you to hear the words that God speaks to Jesus – This is my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.
You are the beloved of God – with whom God is well pleased.
This is not just one ‘you’, but in plural, all of you all are the beloved of God – with whom God is well pleased.
Before Jesus had performed one miracle, offered one teaching, given one part of his life, he was God’s beloved. Before we change our lives, put Jesus at the center, read our bibles, love our neighbor, we are God’s beloved. Our God who made us and created us, loves us and knows us. Sometimes, we might think you would not love me if you knew… God knows and loves us!
So, as the waters are poured forth this morning, remember your baptism and be thankful. Be thankful to our God, who was, and is, and will be. Be thankful to God, God of all, whose beloved you are. And commit to know our God more. Read God’s book!
This is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Ame
[1] http://religionnews.com/2013/04/04/poll-americans-love-the-bible-but-dont-read-it-much/ ; http://www.americanbible.org/features/state-of-the-bible
Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 119: 97-106
Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your decrees are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn away from your ordinances, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2: 1-12; 3:14-17
Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 3:14-17
But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, January 8 ~ Saturday, January 15
Sunday: “John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented.” Matthew 3: 14-15. John baptized Jesus, even though Jesus is the son of God. We all have a vital part of the coming of the Kingdom of God. Pray for how God is using you for the coming kingdom.
Monday: “And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” Matthew 3:16. Jesus’ baptism demonstrates the connection that our own baptisms have with the coming of the Spirit. Remember your baptism and be thankful.
Tuesday: “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. With you, God is well pleased! How are you living into God’s pleasure with you?
Wednesday: “Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.” Psalm 119: 97-98. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and it celebrates scripture. Learned scripture is a gift that God can use in times of trouble.
Thursday: “I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn away from your ordinances, for you have taught me.” Psalm 119: 101-102. Reading the Bible shapes how we live our lives. Pray for God to teach you through your scripture reading.
Friday: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119: 103. God’s gift of the Bible sustains and delights us. Where are receiving God’s gifts of scripture as sweet and delight-filled?
Saturday: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119: 105. God’s word illuminates even our darkest challenges. Consider being in prayer for biblical guidance.